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THE PROGRESSIVE ERA

THE PROGRESSIVE ERA. America tries to change it’s direction. PROGRESSIVISM. Civi l Rights. Suffragettes. Muckrackers. Temperance. Labor Unions. M i d c l a s s W o m e n. Popul ists. Goo Goos. ORIGINS OF PROGRESSIVISM. Laissez Fair Economy & Government collusion. Issues:

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THE PROGRESSIVE ERA

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  1. THE PROGRESSIVE ERA America tries to change it’s direction

  2. PROGRESSIVISM CivilRights Suffragettes Muckrackers Temperance Labor Unions MidclassWomen Popul ists Goo Goos

  3. ORIGINS OF PROGRESSIVISM • Laissez Fair Economy & Government collusion • Issues: • Working conditions • Rights for women and children • Economic, political, environmental & social reform

  4. FOUR GOALS OF REFORMERS • Protect Social Welfare • Promote Moral Improvement • Create Economic Reform • Foster Efficiency

  5. MUCKRAKERS CRITICIZE BIG BUSINESS Journalists known as “Muckrakers” exposed corruption in business Ida Tarbell exposed Standard Oil Company’s cut-throat methods of eliminating competition Upton Sinclair wrote “The Jungle,” exposing the Meat Packing industry’s horrific sanitary and employment problems Some view Michael Moore as a modern muckraker

  6. “THE JUNGLE” LEADS TO FOOD REGULATION • After reading The Jungle, Roosevelt pushed for passage of the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 • The Act mandated cleaner conditions for meatpacking plants

  7. REGULATING BIG BUSINESS • Under the progressive Republican leadership of Robert La Follette, aka “Fighting Bob” • While he was Governor, Wisconsin led the way in regulating big business • Started the Progressive Party and fought for Progressive causes when he became Senator Robert La Follette

  8. PROTECTING WORKING CHILDREN • As the number of child workers rose, reformers worked to end child labor • Children were more prone to accidents caused by fatigue • Nearly every state limited or banned child labor by 1918

  9. EFFORTS TO LIMIT HOURS • The Supreme Court and the states enacted or strengthened laws reducing women’s hours of work • 8 hours labor, 8 hours sleep, 8 hours leisure • Progressives also succeeded in winning worker’s compensation to aid families of injured workers

  10. ELECTION REFORM • Citizens fought for, and won, such measures as secret ballots, referendum votes, and the recall • Citizens could petition and get initiatives onthe ballot • In 1899, Minnesota passed the first statewide primary system • The 17th Amendment: Popular/Direct election of Senators

  11. WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE • By 1900, women were very visible in the workforce • By 1900, one out of five women worked • The garment trade was popular as was office work, department stores and classrooms

  12. WOMEN AND REFORM In 1896, black women formed the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) The WTCU promoted suffrage, 8-hr work day and other progressive reforms before 1920

  13. THREE-PART STRATEGY FOR WINNING SUFFRAGE Suffragists tried three approaches to winning the vote: Convince state legislatures to adopt vote (Succeeded in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Colorado) Pursue court cases to test 14th Amendment Push for national constitutional Amendment

  14. TEDDY ROOSEVELT’S SQUARE DEAL When President William McKinley was assassinated 6 months into his second term, Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th president • TR’s Domestic Policy had • 3 Goals: • conservation of natural resources • control of corporations • consumer protection McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist in Buffalo in September 1901

  15. THE MODERN PRESIDENT • When Roosevelt was thrust into the presidency in 1901, he became the youngest president ever at age 42 • He quickly established himself as a modern president who could influence the media and shape legislation

  16. TRUSTBUSTING • By 1900, Trusts (legal bodies created to hold stock in many companies) controlled 80% of U.S. industries • Roosevelt filed 44 antitrust suits under the Sherman Antitrust Act

  17. 1902 COAL STRIKE In 1902 140,000 coal miners in Pennsylvania went on strike for increased wages, a 9-hour work day, and the right to unionize Mine owners refused to bargain Roosevelt called in both sides and settled the dispute Thereafter, when a strike threatened public welfare, the federal government was expected to step in and help

  18. PURE FOOD AND DRUG ACT • In response to unregulated claims and unhealthy products, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906 • The Act halted the sale of contaminated foods and medicines and called for truth in labeling

  19. ROOSEVELT AND THE ENVIRONMENT • Roosevelt made conservation a primary concern of his administration • Roosevelt set aside 148 million acres of forest reserves • He also set aside 1.5 million acres of water-power sites and he established 50 wildlife sanctuaries and several national parks Roosevelt, left, was an avid outdoorsman. Here he is with author John Muir at Yosemite Park Yellowstone National park, Wyoming

  20. ROOSEVELT AND CIVIL RIGHTS • Roosevelt failed to support Civil Rights for African Americans • He did, however, support a few individuals: W.E.B. DuBoise Booker T. Washington Ida B. Wells

  21. PROGRESSIVISM UNDER PRESIDENT TAFT • Republican William Howard Taft easily defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan to win the 1908 presidential election • Among his accomplishments, Taft “busted” 90 trusts during his 4 years in office Taft, right, was Roosevelt’s War Secretary

  22. 1912 ELECTION • Republicans split in 1912 between Taft and Teddy Roosevelt (who returned after a long trip to Africa) • Convention delegates nominated Taft • Some Republicans formed a third party – The Bull Moose Party and nominated Roosevelt • The Democrats put forward a reform - minded New Jersey Governor, Woodrow Wilson

  23. WILSON’S NEW FREEDOM • As America’s newly elected president, Wilson moved to enact his program, the “New Freedom” • He planned his attack on what he called the triple wall of privilege: trusts, tariffs, and high finance W. Wilson U.S. President 1912-1920

  24. CLAYTON ANTITRUST ACT • In 1914 Congress enacted the Clayton Antitrust Act which strengthened the Sherman Act • The Clayton Act prevented companies from acquiring stock from another company (Anti-monopoly) • The Act also supported workers unions

  25. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FORMED • The FTC was formed in 1914 to serve as a “watchdog” agency to end unfair business practices • The FTC protects consumers from business fraud

  26. FEDERAL INCOME TAX ARRIVES • Wilson worked hard to lower tariffs, however that lost revenue had to be made up • Up to that time, most revenue came from customs taxes • Ratified in 1916, the 16th Amendment legalized a graduated (progressive) federal income tax

  27. WOMEN WIN SUFFRAGE: 19th Amendment • Native-born, educated, middle-class women grew more and more impatient • Through local, state and national organization, vigorous protests and World War I, women finally realized their dream in 1920

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